Singapore: A step away from being more open

And I thought Singapore was becoming a more open society?
Frankly I am disappointed that a film like this has to be shot down. After all, look at the US. We have films by Michael Moore that shoot down Bush (Farenheit 911) and even Supersize Me that attacks McDonalds (I think its great that a huge MNC that makes heaps of money every year is exposed). But isnt that what a freer and more open society is about? Being able to reveal information? Being able to talk about subject matters that we feel for and believe in?
I think the governement, under the new leadership, has indeed taken great steps to become more open and inclusive, and I believe allowing a film maker to express himself in the medium he knows best, is also a way of being more open.

Courtesy of www.straitstimes.com
Police probe film on Chee Soon Juan
By Leslie Koh

A FILM-MAKER who made a documentary on opposition politician Chee Soon Juan has been asked to present himself for questioning by the police next Monday.

Police told freelance film editor Martyn See, who is in his 30s, they are looking into his film, Singapore Rebel.

A police spokesman confirmed they were investigating the case under the Films Act pertaining to 'party political' films, but did not provide further details.

The 26-minute film, which chronicles some of Dr Chee's political activities, was withdrawn from the Singapore International Film Festival in March, where it was entered for the short film competition.

This was after Mr See was told it was objectionable under the Films Act.

The law bans the making or distribution of 'party political' films. These include advertisements by political parties or other political organisations here, or films 'directed towards any political end in Singapore'.

Mr See thought the matter was closed after that.

But then the police called him on his mobile phone last Friday, and asked him to come to the Central Police Station in Cantonment Road.

Writing in his blogsite singaporerebel the next day, he said the officer who called said the police had a copy of the film.

The officer, who spoke 'in a civil and almost apologetic tone', also asked if anyone else had worked on the film's production process.

A worried Mr See said yesterday: 'I don't know why the police are investigating me now, because I was told the 'matter will be dropped' once I withdrew the film from the festival.

'Dr Chee is purely a subject matter I chose in order to understand why the political opposition in Singapore is marginalised and what motivates someone like him to keep going despite the odds. He has no hand in the production process at all.'

Mr See has helped edit several local films, dramas and documentaries, including Eric Khoo's Mee Pok Man and Jack Neo's That One No Enough.

His latest blog entry has appeared on at least two other websites, one of which even carries a 76-second trailer of the film.

Singapore Rebel was withdrawn from the festival after the Board of Film Censors told organisers the film might violate the Films Act of 1998. This could land the film-maker in jail for up to two years or earn him a fine of up to $100,000.

Three years ago, a documentary about veteran opposition politician J.B. Jeyaretnam was also pulled from the festival.